Shloka 15

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

अपि दुष्कृतकर्मा हि लभते परमां गतिम् । स्मरणादेव गंगायाः पापसंघातपंजरम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

api duṣkṛtakarmā hi labhate paramāṃ gatim | smaraṇādeva gaṃgāyāḥ pāpasaṃghātapaṃjaram || 15 ||

Translation

たとえ悪業を重ねた者であっても、ただガンガーを念ずるだけで至高の境地を得る。なぜならその憶念は、罪の群れが作りなした牢獄のような檻を打ち砕くからである。

Word by Word

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even)

• दुष्कृत-कर्मा: a doer of evil deeds
• दुष्कृत-कर्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: यस्य कर्म दुष्कृतम् सः (one whose deeds are evil)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• लभते: attains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• स्मरणात्: from remembrance
• स्मरणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphatic

• गङ्गायाः: of the Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• पाप-संघात-पंजरम्: the cage-like mass of sins
• पाप-संघात-पंजरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + संघात (प्रातिपदिक) + पंजर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष): पापानां संघातः (mass of sins) तस्य पंजरम् (cage/structure)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that the sanctity of the Gaṅgā is so great that even simple remembrance (smaraṇa) can break the bondage created by accumulated sins and lead one toward the highest spiritual end (paramā gati).

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By emphasizing smaraṇa—devotional recollection—as a potent practice: heartfelt remembrance of a sacred embodiment of purity (Gaṅgā) functions like bhakti, dissolving inner impurity and orienting the mind toward liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the practical takeaway is a dhārmic sādhana principle—smaraṇa (recollection) as an accessible purificatory practice within tirtha-mahātmya traditions.